Okonkwo's Bold 2027 Forecast: Atiku to Conquer North, Southwest

Kenneth Okonkwo, the spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, has made significant projections regarding the former vice president's prospects in the 2027 presidential election. Okonkwo, speaking on AIT’s Democracy Today, asserted that Atiku Abubakar, who is expected to contest on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is poised to secure victory in all 19 northern states. He confidently stated, "Let me tell you the path to victory for Atiku. The 19 states of the north have fallen for ADC. Settled.”

Okonkwo largely attributed this projected support for the opposition to a growing wave of dissatisfaction among Nigerians with the current economic policies implemented by President Bola Tinubu's administration. He specifically highlighted critical economic challenges such as the contentious minimum wage and the escalating price of petrol, which he claims are making it increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens to meet their basic needs. He criticized the government's decisions as "irrational" and "anti-people," pointing out the stark contrast between a N70,000 minimum wage and petrol prices nearing N1,500. He further elaborated that this wage cannot even cover half a tank of fuel for a 100-liter vehicle, let alone other essential expenses like rent and food.

Beyond the northern states, Okonkwo also projected substantial gains for the opposition in other key regions. In the South-South, he anticipated wins in several states and predicted that Atiku would garner more than 25 percent of the votes across all states in the region, partly due to the appeal of his running mate, who would likely be a native of the area. "South South, we are going to win in some states, and we’re going to get more than two,” he noted, adding, “Then we’re going to get more than 25 percent in all the South-South states because who will not like their own son to be vice president?”

The former Labour Party chieftain also forecasted that the opposition would secure three states in the Southwest, specifically naming Osun, Ondo, and Ogun as probable victories. He recalled Atiku's success in Osun in the 2023 election as a precedent. Furthermore, Okonkwo cited what he described as significant internal crises within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo and Ogun states as factors that could favor the opposition in these areas. He concluded his assessment by asserting that President Tinubu has "never been popular in Lagos," a statement challenging the traditional perception of Lagos as Tinubu's political stronghold.